New York Times (NYT) Games are taking over computer and phone screens everywhere, mesmerizing users with addictive puzzles and seemingly simple formatting. The NYT Games date back to 1942 with the Crossword, but the online game platform was officially established in 2014 with the release of the Mini Crossword. “[The games are] like a fun little brain break, but I still have to think really hard. It’s more productive than social media,” comments Sophie Adams, an NYT Games fanatic.
The Crossword
An American cultural treasure, the Crossword was welcomed with open arms in 1942 during WWII. NYT first printed in the Sunday Magazine to provide readers with a sense of relaxation during the stressful and bleak time. It involves filling words and phrases of varying lengths into a grid of squares, either horizontal or vertical. Throughout the week, the NYT Crossword gets progressively more difficult, with Monday having the “easiest” puzzle, Saturday having the “hardest,” and Sunday being the largest with medium difficulty. The usual daily crossword puzzle has approximately 70 words, while the Sunday Crossword can have upwards of 140. In addition to new puzzles being released every day, over 10,000 old crosswords can be found in the archives with the purchase of a subscription.
The Mini
Launched in 2014, the Mini provides a bite-sized piece of the Crossword, a version that is faster and more accessible for users. The puzzles are reset each day at 10 PM EST, but subscribed players can access old ones in the archives. In the Mini, players fill words and phrases in corresponding columns and rows, racing against the clock. “I do the [words] I know first and then use the letters that I have from those to fill in the others,” comments Adams. Franklin senior and self-proclaimed “Mini Master” Rowen Meiner enjoys the puzzle because “it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I finish,” and it is “really fun to test my knowledge with the daily Mini.” Working with others makes it easier and more enjoyable, because “it’s a fun bonding experience to do together and you can talk to your friends about hints,” remarks Lyra McNamara, another senior at Franklin.
Spelling Bee
The central letter must be used in every word played, which are spelled using the allotted letters. The goal is to get as many words as possible, and the NYT Hints page provides assistance. In terms of scoring, four-letter words earn one point, and longer words earn one point per letter. At least one “pangram” is worked into each puzzle that uses all seven letters. There are nine different ranks to move up, and players have to find approximately 86% of the possible words to reach “Genius.” Limited vowels increase the difficulty, and Jaime Pier, a Spelling Bee fanatic, says that “a lot of times I can only come up with words that have one letter that’s not in the group.” She recommends it to anyone who likes the Wordle but may want more of a challenge.
Wordle
Wordle is the most popular NYT game and undoubtedly played a key role in the NYT Games craze after it was purchased in February 2022. Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle first made it public in October 2021, before receiving at least a million dollars from the New York Times for the game. Its simplicity captivates players, who get six chances to find a five letter word, receiving feedback on the placement of each letter. McNamara finds Wordle challenging “because I’ll have four letters and then I’ll put random letters in the last spot, not realizing what the word is.” Many are stumped by the seemingly endless possibilities of words to choose from. New York Times recommends starting with a word with many vowels or using the process of elimination.
Connections
The second most popular NYT game, Connections, was first introduced on June 12, 2023, and joined the ranks of the app on Aug. 28, 2023. Connections prompts players to find four groups of four words, with varying complexity and little room for error. The difficulty is increased through words that are meant to trick you, and “sometimes there can be a bunch of fake ones going on,” comments Aidan Mollering, an avid Connections player. The puzzling nature demands perseverance and critical thinking from users, with 9/10 people ultimately finishing the game, whether winning or losing. Adams regularly plays Connections, and notes that “it’s the easiest one for me to do because of the pattern recognition.”
Letter Boxed
Another game involving spelling, Letter Boxed, prompts players to connect letters placed around a square to formulate words. According to NYT, the objective is to use all of the letters in as few words as possible to solve the puzzle. It has strict criteria, including one rule where the last letter from one word needs to be the first letter of the next word. That being said, a good strategy would be to slow down and think through each word.
Tiles
Unlike many of the more popular games, Tiles omits the usage of words, instead asking players to match patterned squares in order to create a long sequence of tile pairings. “It’s challenging because sometimes the patterns look the same but are different in a very small way,” says Pier. “I make it harder for myself by trying to find squares that have more than one common element.” Based on this information, it’s important to note that slowing down and analyzing each tile on its own may make the puzzle easier. She finds Tiles reminiscent of “spot the difference” games, and recommends it to people who like looking for details in puzzles.
Vertex
The first Vertex puzzle was published in December 2019, inviting players to connect vertices to form triangles and ultimately piece together an image. It isn’t extremely popular or well known, but some players are constantly returning to this logic-based drawing game.
Sudoku
A classic game since 1979, Sudoku prompts players to fill out nine three by three squares with numbers one through nine. The twist — numbers can’t repeat in the three by three square, the vertical column, or the horizontal row. This puzzle is harder than it looks, and leaves many players stumped. Fortunately, there are three different difficulty levels to choose from.
Strands
The most recent addition, Strands, was released on March 4, 2024. Since then, players have been captivated by searching for words and a central theme. One useful feature is access to hints by finding legitimate words that aren’t part of the puzzle. “It’s like a word search but more unique,” says Adams, “it’s slightly different because it’s not just straight lines.” The game is currently in “beta” mode, meaning NYT is testing the amount of interest, and it’s only available on web browsers.
The shared experience of the various NYT Games brings people together and prompts interactions. “If I see somebody else playing, it’s like a chain reaction,” says Helen Drescher, Connections fan. NYT Games offer a sense of fulfillment during times of boredom. Mollering is drawn to them “when I have my computer and I’m not really doing anything else.” Collaborating on the puzzles fosters connection with others and builds community. Meiner describes the joys of playing with friends during class: “It’s a little New York Times party!”
